For one week in May 2026, TNF stopped being voices on Mumble and became people sharing a table. EVE Fanfest returned to Reykjavik, a group of TNF pilots made the trip, and they met our Icelandic contingent on home turf. This is their diary, kept (as all good diaries are) in a Discord channel.
June 2025: the list
Planning started almost a year out. Aralo Meza put together the first list of likely attendees, with Motty 007, Kloria and a group of Sigma Grindset friends on it. Pict1on confirmed that "all of the Icelanders will be there," which, given how many Icelanders TNF has, was a significant headcount.
Marri02 tracked down an alliance hotel discount. The locals started handing out survival tips: take the bus from the airport, check shuttle timetables, use your tax-free allowance, and "you WILL be hungover on Monday, plan accordingly."
Pict1on, with roughly a dozen Fanfests behind him, had the best summary of the advantage: "FF is alway great fun this year will be my 13th I think.. but living in Iceland is kind of a cheat code for FF."
Winter: the merch department
Motty 007 quietly became the corp's merchandise department. He reworked the TNF logo for 3D printing, with rounded corners and a slot for an NFC tag, ordered flags, and spent the weeks before the trip printing keyfobs and coasters.
"Coasters so far," he posted in early May, with a photo. "Any strange requests let me know now."
The merch department had help. Lex Ashwari-Thrace offered Motty the use of his own 3D printers' build plates "if you need more," and MontyGTV, one of the Icelandic hosts, was asking about TNF stickers and flags back in December, adding that he knew someone who could get a flag hung somewhere high. Jekktarr announced the paperwork milestone in January: "passports came in we official baby."
Wednesday: arrivals
Xander Ryn flew in early and went straight onto an "Into the Glacier with EVE Devs" tour, a tip from Marri02, who had called it an experience "no one should miss." Jekktarr was out exploring too, reporting from the end of a lava tunnel and asking, a little late, whether his casual shoes were going to be a problem. (Aralo Meza: "No your fine. Dont need hiking gear.")
Thursday: "It begins…"
Day one opened with Xander's two-word dispatch: "It begins…"
The corp split up for sessions, then regrouped at lunch. Aralo Meza's report from the table: "We are here, beer and food." Pict1on and a teammate beat some CCP employees in a 2v3 at one of the side events, a fact he reported with a photo and no further comment, as is traditional.
Somewhere in the afternoon Kloria asked the question on everyone's mind back home: "When does the flag go up in Harpa?" Xander's answer: "Tomorrow. Plan is for strategic placement so it will be visible in the live stream."
Kloria, following along, made a promise of his own: "come hell or divorce im going next year."
Friday: flags up
"Day 2 begins…" posted Xander, and then, half an hour later, the dispatch the whole channel had been waiting for:
Nine minutes later: "Flags up! I posted pics in the Sigma thread. I am sitting in the lower middle section. Some seats available."
Back home, members watching the stream played "spot the TNFeds" in crowd photos. Xander helpfully offered a hint ("just below the folks in the back raising their hands"), and Lex Ashwari-Thrace found him: "I see you!"
Saturday: the raffle
Xander came away with a raffle prize pack, and then did something very TNF with it: he gave it away. The hoodie went to a corpmate who could use it, and the t-shirt and ship models were offered "up for grabs for the Icelanders! 🇮🇸" Motty's verdict: "enjoy Xander youve done all the legwork."
Jekktarr, for the record, had claimed before the trip that he could out-drink Motty and Pict1on "while dancing with a beer balanced on his head." The outcome of that claim remains classified.
Following from home
Not everyone could make the trip, and the channel was full of people cheering from their desks.
- Harrat, in December: "You don't know how badly i want to go. I'll be there in Spirit, and my spirit drinks 1 for 1 with anyone."
- Killjoy Ender told Motty his merch was awesome and asked to get some coasters later, then blocked off his calendar for next year "once I know when it is."
- PalmarSiamang53 watched the stream, spotted things only a production nerd would notice, and suggested a TNF merch store.
- Sllice, seeing the photos: "Looks awesome boyos. And girlyos."
- Trajon Thrax, on the haul of merch: "Awesome swag."
- miki Terona and xXchochiXx both started planning for 2027.
Afterwards: "Happiest I have been in years"
The reviews came in once everyone was home. Xander's:
I have to say I really loved Iceland! Stunning vistas, wonderful food, and friendly people. Great to meet folks in person.
Motty bought his 2027 ticket at the closing party and announced he was "counting days already." Aralo Meza told him it was "time to start to season up for the next one."
Lex Ashwari-Thrace, who stayed home this time, bought his ticket almost immediately too, and explained exactly why:
very much looking forward to '27, Motty had me sold with "I have been the happiest i have been in years"
More on EVE Fanfest from CCP. See you in '27.
